B&S Week 10 game-by-game previews 2023
We’ve got a granddaddy between Alabama and LSU, plus a fight for the East between Georgia and Mizzou in Week 10.
By: Bossman Slim, Hammer
We’ve arrived at the yearly massive matchup between the Tide and Tigers. Who will come out on top?
It’s nut-cuttin’ time in the SEC. This is the best conference slate we have had all year with Mizzou heading to Athens, LSU going to Tuscaloosa, and the Aggies traveling to Oxford for some real heavyweight battles. Yeah, calling the Aggies heavyweights is a giant stretch, but the spread is just three points and it's in Oxford, so this game should be close. And Mizzou is a two-touchdown underdog but they are playing the best football we’ve seen from them in many years. They have a massive opportunity in front of them to shock the world, and they have the confidence to pull it off. Saturday can't get here soon enough.
Here’s where the crew stands:
After nine weeks, the gang is still pretty close. As we saw last week, no one is out of it as the Waco Kid gained a ton of ground. Catching Bossman against the spread will be tough, but all it takes is one bad week.
Let’s get to the previews and picks.
Bossman Slim: A&M got off the losing side of life last week, improving to 5-3 after handling South Carolina. Ole Miss wasn’t tested but handled business as they should against Vandy. For the Aggies, I know this defensive line is vaunted, and for good reason, but I think Ole Miss will be able to run on them. We saw that against Tennessee, teams that want to run on A&M eventually can. However, I still think Ole Miss will need to hit some shots downfield, something Tennessee wasn’t able to do, in order to put A&M away. For Ole Miss on defense, the name of the game is pressure hard and pressure often. This offensive line is the weakest group on the A&M team and Pete Golding and the Rebels will look to exploit that and make Max Johnson uncomfortable all day. There are tough, talented players that Ole Miss will need to cover on the outside, like Evan Stewart, Ainias Smith, and Noah Thomas, but Johnson often has difficulty delivering the ball. On the one hand, we have a team that has failed all of their tests so far. On the other side, we have a team that has passed 1/2 in major tests so far with two more to go. I’ll take the team that has won two straight and the one that has the home-field advantage against a weak road team. Give me Ole Miss to cover at home.
#10 Ole Miss 33
Texas A&M 27
Hammer: On the field, this should be a really good game. The spread is this tight for a reason. Off the field, it could mean more disaster for Jimbo Fisher. Lane Kiffin is no stranger to trash talk, and his disdain for Jimbo is well known given how Lane has spoken about him in the past. As expected, Lane is up to his old tricks, taking backhanded shots at Jimbo during his press conferences by praising the work and scheme of new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. Make no mistake, Lane and Jimbo do not like each other at all. So who’s team will rise up and have their coaches back? My gut says Ole Miss. Texas A&M hasn’t won a road game since 2021 so I’m not expecting them to win this one. Will it be close? I think so. The Aggie defense is elite and will keep them in it. The problem remains on the other side of the ball with the Aggie offense. The Ole Miss front seven is very good and should be able to pressure Max Johnson all game long. I don’t trust the A&M offense to be able to run on them either, so expect another tough day for the struggling Aggie offense. The bottom line is the Rebels are 7-1 for a reason. They are darn good and darn good teams usually beat inconsistent teams at home.
#10 Ole Miss 24
Texas A&M 20
The Waco Kid:
Texas A&M 34
#10 Ole Miss 27
Bossman Slim: Both of these teams are reeling. Arkansas has dropped six straight as their season has gone down the tubes in a hurry. Florida was showing signs of life before getting bent over by Georgia. This is the first week that Arkansas will be without ex-OC Dan Enos, so we could see a very different offense from the Hogs and new interim OC Kenny Guiton, yes that Kenny G from Ohio State. It’s really hard to see Arkansas losing seven straight, and if they do, I think that will be curtains for the Sam Pittman era. Florida has played well this year at times and Graham Mertz has been steady at QB. I think Florida will be able to move the ball on this Arkansas defense. Problem is, I also think this Arkansas offense, led by KJ Jefferson, will be able to do the same to Florida. This is a crazy sport, and sometimes you have to expect the unexpected. I think Sam Pittman will have these guys believing they can stop the bleeding and beat Florida. Arkansas will come out with a few tricks up their sleeve and get a couple of shots in against a Gators defense that no longer has Shemar James to rely on. Woo pig!
Arkansas 28
Florida 24
Hammer: Can Arkansas rise from the grave of Dan Enos and actually move the ball? Who knows. I have no clue what to expect from Arkansas after their bye week. I expect them to play really hard for Sam Pittman after what had to be a come-to-Jesus-style bye week after six consecutive losses for the Hogs. The Gators got worked on by Georgia last week but they have rebounded from blowout losses twice already this season. They can rebound again at home. Graham Mertz has been solid in the short passing game and I think Billy Napier has a good sense of what his team can do. His offensive plans have been effective for the most part and they play to the Gator’s strengths. Arkansas is capable of winning this one, but I like the Gators to win a close one.
Florida 31
Arkansas 27
The Waco Kid:
Florida 31
Arkansas 21
Bossman Slim: I am pumped about this one. My Cinderella Mizzou Tigers are still kicking and pushing the limits, and now they’re even pushing the limits on my expectations. Brady Cook has been phenomenal, Luther Burden is getting Heisman talk and Cody Schraeder? More like Cody Shredder! That’s not even to mention the dudes on defense like Ty’Ron Hopper, Darius Robinson, Kris Abraims-Draine and many more. And that’s all a great story but…if you haven’t heard, the Georgia Bulldogs are still the Georgia Bulldogs. After some early season slow starts and a couple of scares along the way (Auburn), the Dawgs are rounding into national championship form. It looks like yet again Georgia will be right there on the verge of a title, even without Brock Bowers. This is a good Mizzou offense, but a great Georgia defense. I just think things are clicking on all cylinders right now, and it’s hard to believe that Kirby and the Dawgs will overlook a Mizzou team that took them to the wire last season. I’ll take the Dawgs to cover, as much as it pains me to say as a bandwagon Mizzou fan this year.
#2 Georgia 38
#12 Mizzou 21
Hammer: What a story Missouri has been this year. Their only loss was a nail-biting shootout to LSU several weeks back. Otherwise, the Tigers have taken care of business and done so in impressive fashion for the most part. Cody Schrader is a legit SEC running back who is only behind Ray Davis in SEC rushing yards. Brady Cook has been one of the best QBs in the SEC and so has stud wideout Luther Burden. That all ends this weekend though. Georgia has a different caliber of athlete at more positions than Mizzou. Plus, Carson Beck is really coming into form as of late and should have a good game. We’ve seen what happens when Georgia is locked in and ready for a big game. They tend to dominate and while I don’t expect them to really dominate this one, they should win comfortably. I think Mizzou can keep this close for a few quarters, but Georgia will pull away in the end.
#2 Georgia 34
#12 Missouri 20
The Waco Kid:
#2 Georgia 42
#12 Missouri 10
Bossman Slim: Auburn.
Auburn 31
Vanderbilt 14
Hammer: I’ll keep this short. Neither of these teams are good, but Auburn is favored by over 12 points for a reason. They have more talent than Vandy. Even if Payton Thorne does not have the kind of game he did a week ago against Mississippi State, Auburn will be able to win here. Jarquez Hunter is finally getting going and that is huge for Auburn. Tigers to win and cover.
Auburn 31
Vanderbilt 17
The Waco Kid:
Auburn 35
Vanderbilt 24
Bossman Slim: I don’t fully trust Devin Leary just yet, but I loved what I saw last week against Tennessee. It finally looked like things were clicking for him. Against this Mississippi State defense, I think that can continue. Kentucky also has to get Ray Davis going again, and I think they will against a Bulldogs defense allowing 134 rushing YPG. As for Mississippi State, I just don’t think this offense has it. We’ll see if Will Rogers can go this week, and if he does, then State has a shot. But if it’s Mike Wright again, then give me Kentucky to cover easily.
Kentucky 35
Mississippi State 17
Hammer: I have no faith in Mississippi State right now. Each week it seems like they might have fixed a problem, and then more problems arise. A night game could get wild in Starkville if Kentucky doesn't jump on them early, but I simply can’t trust the Bulldogs to win a game against a competent opponent. And I believe that’s what Kentucky is. They are by no means great, but they are capable. Devin Leary had the best game of his season last week against Tennessee, and Mississippi State’s defense is substantially worse than the Vols. Aside from this game being on the road, I have very little reason to doubt that Kentucky will win this ballgame. Ray Davis should be able to find room on the ground as well, further cementing my feeling that the Wildcats will emerge with a win. For Mississippi State’s offense, I’m not sure if Mike Wright or Cowboy Will Rogers will start, but I don’t think it matters. The offense is bad regardless of who the QB is. Wildcats to win and cover.
Kentucky 31
Mississippi State 24
The Waco Kid:
Kentucky 42
Mississippi State 28
Bossman Slim: Let’s get it on! LSU-Alabama is a fantastic rivalry, and that’s what this sport is all about. Bad blood abounds in this one. I’ve gone back and forth on this one. I talked myself into Alabama on our Biscuits & SEC Week 10 Preview Show with Steven Willis, and I think I’m sticking to those guns. I’m real excited to see what Jayden Daniels can cook up against this stellar Tide defense. This is strength on strength. Alabama has been susceptible to big pass plays at times this year and LSU thrives on chunk plays and deep balls to their trio of star receivers in Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr. and Kyren Lacey. I know that the Tigers haven’t seen a defense like Alabama’s this season, but the only way teams are beating LSU this season is by outscoring them. If it becomes a game of “who can score more” then I’ll take the Tigers, but I think this Tide defense will be able to slow the Tigers down enough to give their offense a chance to go to work against this bad LSU defense who is now without Mekhi Wingo and Zy Alexander. Jalen Milroe has shown the ability to hit the big plays, and with this Swiss cheese LSU secondary, I think he has a big day getting the ball to Jermaine Burton, Isaiah Bond, and Amari Niblack. It will be close, but I’ll take the Tide on a late Will Reichard field goal.
#8 Alabama 36
#14 LSU 33
Hammer: The big one. Brian Kelly. Nick Saban. Bryant-Denny at night. Revenge. This game has it all. The most dominant defense in the country in Alabama against the best offense in the country in LSU. On the other side, Alabama’s offense has been explosive at times but very inconsistent overall. Yet, the LSU defense is weak. The front seven has not lived up to the hype, and the secondary has been an outright disaster. Brian Kelly has steadied the ship yet again after two straight seasons with early losses and now they’re down Mekhi Wingo. LSU’s offense is explosive enough to win this game. All hell would break loose in Tuscaloosa if the Tide lost two in a row to Brian Kelly, but I like the Tide here. This defense is so good and should be able to limit LSU enough, especially on the ground. LSU’s run game has been improving, but Alabama is a different beast to try and run the ball against. At the end of the day, I just don’t see this LSU team being able to go into BDS at night and get a win. Alabama has to lay everything on the line to keep their playoff hopes alive, and I expect them to do that. Nick Saban is the greatest coach of all time for a reason, and these are the kinds of games he wins.
#8 Alabama 30
#14 LSU 28
The Waco Kid:
#8 Alabama 45
#14 LSU 35